Method of handling threads



June 29, 1948.

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Original Filed July 17, 1945 Patented June 29, 1948 METHOD OF HANDLING THREADS Richard W. Stanley, Drexel Hill,-Pa., assiznor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware original application July 17, 1945, Serial No. 605,496. Divided andthis application June 28, Serial No. 757,899. In Canada July 21,

8 Claims. (01. 28-":2)

1 This invention relates to methodswhich may be used for the production on a reel of a yarn store which is continuously advanced axially of the periphery of the reel during which time it may be subjected to fluid treatment in the manner and for the purposes conventional in the art.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 605,496, filed July 17, 1945, which is in part a continuation of copending application Serial No. 496,543 (now Patent 2,396,297), filed July 29, 1943, in part a continuation of copending application Serial No. 508,174 (now Patent 2,403,031), filed October 29, 1943, and in part a continuation of copending application Serial No. 597,108 (now Patent 2,404,005),

filed June 1, 1945.

It is a particular object of the invention in my application Serial No. 605,496 to provide an improved thread-advancing reel. It is a further object of said invention to devise a reel which is adaptable to either a cantilever or double-end supported structure. It is a further object of said invention to provide a reel of this type based upon a structural principle, which, when embodied in a reel of large axial length, results in substantially uniform thread tension and substantially uniform eificiency in thread-advancing action throughout the length of the reel, and at the same time is adapted to operation at high speeds of rotation of the reel. A further object of said invention is to provide an improved system for adjusting the thread-advancing frequency with respect to the rotation frequency of the reel.

A further object of 'said invention is to provide improved methods of handling a'thread or the like in the form of a helix and this constitutes the subject matter of the present application and claims. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing, illustrative of the invention, Figure l is a mid-section taken axially through one embodiment of a reel for accomplishing the methods of this invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line II--II of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a mid-section taken axially half way through another embodiment of a-reel for accomplishing the methods of the'invention;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line V--V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing 2, a modified arrangement at embodiment of Figure 4:

Figure '7 is a sectional elevation of a form of reel supported from one end only for accomplishingv the methods 'of the invention; and

Figure 8 is a section on line VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

In general, thread-storing, thread-advancing reels for accomplishing the methods of this invention comprise a concentric set of spaced, longitudinally extending bars and an eccentric set of spaced, longitudinally extending bars interdigitating with and alternating between the bars of thefirst set.

The thread carried by the reel is passed continuously through a path having the general form of a helix. Since one set of reel bars is mounted ecc'entrically to the other set, a portion of the helix is bulged radially outwardly with respect to the true cylinder it would otherwise occupy if it were carried on only the concentric set of reel bars. Because of the practical limitations requiring the bars to have substantial thickness, the bulged portion occupies a minor portion, which is almost but not quite one-half, of the helix circumference. The helix is rotated about a predetermined longitudinal axis and, by rotating the eccentric shaft or bearings for the eccentric set of reel bars, the bulged portion is continuously shifted around the axis. That is, the bulged portion is shifted circumferentially around the left end of the the helix, the helix being maintained in fixed I set so that the turns of thread are shifted longitudinally of the helix in the bulged portion of the helix.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 3, the thread-advancing reel comprises two sets of interdigitating bars, the bars 2 of one set alternating with and being spaced from and between the bars 3 of the other set. One of the sets comprising bars 2 is formed by suitably slotting the periphery of a housing formed of the telescoping hollow cylindrical members 4 and 5 of cup-like shape secured together by the bolts 6. i

The set of bars 2 is rotatably mounted concentrically on a shaft 1 by means of ball bearings 8. One end of the shaft is provided with a cap 9 suitably secured thereto, as by the screw threads shown. The outwardly projecting portion of the cap 9 has a non-circular periphery and fits in a suitablesupport or hanger I0 having therein a rotatable bearing So having a recess 9b of a crossor housing.

The other set of bars 3 are divided into several groups (three-being shown) those of each group being formed integrally as-ra'dial projections from a casting occupying roughly a segment of a circle. Since these three units are identical. only one is described. The segment has a transverse web i2 extending in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of the reel. The web has an opening l3 which is sufllciently large to allow plenty of clearance about the transverse bolts 6 which secure the housing or cage carrying the concentric bars 2. As shown in Figure 3, the web [2 is provided with a pair of bosses l4 extending axially to both sides of the web. The bosses I4 have bores within which pins it are secured by nuts IS. The enlarged ends IT at the left of the pins I8 have shoulders bearin against a yoke l8 extending between the pair of bosses. The ends ll are slidably mounted in bores through the spider i9 and the other ends of pins i5 are slidably mounted in similar bores of spider 20. A spring 2i within a recess in spider :0 midway between the pin-receiving bores therein normally presses the entire segment assembly to the left. A roller 22 secured to the yoke it bears constantly against the annular cam surface 23 of the cam 24 fixedly secured to'the shaft 1. The spiders i9 and are clamped in their appropriate positions upon the sleeve 25 by nut 28, spacer sleeve 21 being inserted between the spiders. The sleeve 25 is carried by bushings 28 and 23, which in turn are carried by the centrally located eccentric portion 30 of the shaft I- The eccentric causes bars 3 to bulge radially outwardly from the periphery of bars 2 along the upper portion of the reel circumference, as shown. In this embodiment, the bulged portion of the helix projects outwardly to the same extent throughout its length which substantially corresponds to the length of the bars 3. A band of member 4 4 speeds and to change the direction of travel 0 the helix axially of the reel.

Whereas the actuated bars 3 of the invention have been shown assembled in groups upon a plurality of segmental members, it is to be understood that each of the bars 3 may be mounted separately and may be provided with a cam follower to affect its individual actuation axially of bars 2 by means of the cam 24.

In operation. the gear lob may be held in fixed position thereby maintaining the central shaft I stationary, and the concentric cage of bars 2 is driven by means of a gear 33 which meshes with gear teeth 3! formed or'secured to one end of the concentric cage. The rotation of the concentric cage comprising bars 2 causes the rotation of the segment assemblies of bars 3 about the eccentric shaft 33. As a result of the fact that bars 3 rotate about an axis which is oflset from the axis of the bars 2, the thread-carrying surfaces of bars 3 alternately project outwardly and recede inwardly from the periphery formed by bars 2. At the same time, rotation of the segments carrying bars 3 with respect to the cam 23 causes axial motion thereof with respect to the bars 2. This shifts the turns of thread on the reel bars 3 where they bulge from the reel longitudinally ofthe helix. The arrangement of the eccentric portion 30 of the shaft and the cam surface 23 is so selected that shortly after bars 3 are caused to project outwardly from the periphery of the bars 3, the rise on the cam 3t shifts the bars 3 axially, which axial shift is maintained by a suitable dwell in the cam until after bars 3 have been caused to recede below the peripheral surface of bars 2, after which a drop in the cam surface 23 permits the spring ii to return the segment to its original position.

Operation in this fashion while holding shaft i stationary efiects a single complete thread-advancingmovement per revolution of the reel bars.

beyond the bars 3 and having reduced diameter may serve as a surplus thread-collecting ring.

Flexible sealing membranes 3i and 32 may be secured to the segments. the central sleeve assembly, and the concentric cage members (as shown) where it is desired to use the reel for fluid treat- However, rotation of shaft 1 provides a means for modifying the pitch of the helical path followed by the thread about the reel. This also shifts the bulged portion of bars 3 continuously around the reel axis. Thus, rotation of shaft 1 in the direction opposite to the rotation of the reel bars and at the same speed causes the pitch to be twice that obtained when the shaft I is held stationary. Rotation of shaft I at half the speed but in the same direction as the reel bars produces a pitch of one-half that obtained when the shaft I is held stationary. Any relative speed may be imparted to the reel bars and the shaft 1 carrying the eccentric bearing means 35 and t the means 24 for reciprocating the actuatable set ment of yarns .and the like, and to prevent the 1 entrance of the fluid intothe working parts of the reel.

In Figure 1 there is shown in diagrammatic and on a disproportionately reduced scale (as compared to the size of the reel) a driving system for gear lob comprising a motor 38. a variable speed drive 31, such as the conventional Reeves drive having belts or equivalent means operating between adjustabl'y spaced conical faced pulleys, a transmission housing 38 to reverse the direction of drive by swinging the lever 33 and the output gear All in mesh with gear lob. Any conventional forms of speed-varying and reversing transmission mechanism may be used for the driving purposes just outlined. A similar driving system may be provided for gear 33, if desired, to effect the receiving and delivery of thread at various of bars. 1

Referring now more particularly to Figures 4 and 5, the concentric set of longitudinally extending bar members 42 are constituted of 9. cylindrical-cage member having a flange M at one end and an annular member 43 at the other end thereof and being appropriately slitted longitudinally to leave spaces alternating between the bars 48 within which the bars 45 of the other set may be actuated. The cylindrical cage may be clamped between end flanges or spiders 3B and H by suitable spaced cap screws 43. The system comprising the cylindrical cage and flanges 63 and "constitutes a housing which may have any axial length desired, and which may house the actuating mechanism for the other set of interdigitating bars 45. This housing is supported for rotation with respect to shaft 43 by means of suitable bearings 50 and II. Flange I! may be 7 provided with a non-circular projection '52. which is adapted to flt in a corresponding socket I!" of a coupling 52a upon the shaft 52 which may be driven by the gear 52b keyed thereto. Secured to the shaft 4! is a suitable non-circular projection II adapted to be received by a correspondingly shaped recess 53' in a coupling member a of ashaft 53" (analogous to 62a and 52'') provided with gear 53b keyed thereto for driving it in a direction the same or opposite to that of projection 52. As the occasion may demand, rotation of shaft ll provides a means of modifying the pitch of the helical path followed by the thread about the reel in the same fashion as mentioned above with respect to Figures 1 to 3. Normally. shaft 40 may be maintained stationary by not rotating gear 53b unless this pitch modification is found necessary. If shaft 48 is rotated at an equivalent speed but in the opposite direction as that of projection 52 the pitch will be twice that obtained when shaft 49 is held Sta-- ticnary. If shaft 48 is rotated at" half the speed and in the same direction as projection 82 the pitch obtained will be one-half that obtained whenshaft I! is held stationary.

Two sleeves l4 and 55 are mounted upon the shaft ll and are suitably spaced by the ring 58. The sleeves 54 and iii have external cylindrical surfaces whose axes are askew and eccentric to the axis of shaft 49 but parallel to each other.

Upon each of the sleeves, a resilient spider-memframe member II and a spring i! normally urges the coupling use into engagement with member In operation of the reels of Figures 4 to 6, the skew plate flanges it cause substantial axial motion of the bars I. such motion bein imparted individually to each of the bars ll by virtue of the individual resilient projecting members 59. By virtue of the eccentricity of the resilient supporting meansand the bars 45. the axial to and fro motion of the bars imparted by the skew plates is combined with a radial component of motion which alternately causes first the protrusion of the bar 48 outside the periphery of bars 2 and then their recession within that periph'ery. thereby-resulting ,in the advancing of the thread axially of the reel. The method of handling a thread in the form of a helix on the reel of Figures 1 to 3 can also be performed in substantially the same. way on the reels of Figures 4 to 6. the thread in the helix being maintained under substantially constant tension in all cases.

Fi ures 7 and 8 show a modification in which the reel is supp rted from one end only and comprises two generally cylindrical members 10 and H. Member 10, which may be termed the conher I1 is mounted, preferably by means of ball bearings 58. These spiders 51 are of a resilient material, preferably of thin spring metal, and have individual radially extending members 59 between opposed pairs of which the bars 45 are secured by'suitable means, such as by the noncircuiar rod in embedded within depending porticns ofthe bars 45 and the nuts 6!. Skew plates l2 and it are also carried by the bearings 58 and have outer flanged portions 64 which bear against the ends of the rods 80. v

Where it is desired to protect the main operating parts from any possibility of clogging and corrosion when the reel is used for subjecting the filamentary material to liquids, a flexible sealing membrane 65. such as of rubber or synthetic rubber, may be secured to the outer portion of the resilient supporting means for the non-concentric bars and to the ends of the concentric cylindrical cage as shown.

As shown in the modified form in Figure 6. the annular member 42 projects beyond the flange 46 and overhangs the outer rim of a stationary member 46', which surrounds the support lie. The outer peripheral surface of the member preferably slopes inwardly from its outer rim to a generally cylindrical portion, which serves to hold any accumulation of thread formed after breakage of the thread being handled by the reel or during lacing up of the reel or any machine comprising the reel. Occasionally, stray filaments also tend to gather on this member 48'.

' ber," is rotatably mounted on bearing '16 the sur- 4 centric member" is mounted concentrically upon and for rotation by and with the drive shaft I2 which may be hollow as shown, as by pins 13 extending into radial recesses or grooves 14. The periphery of member It comprises bars 15. Member H which may be termed the eccentric memface of which has an axis eccentric and inclined to that of member 10 and has a periphery comprising a plurality of bars 11 disposed alternately and interdigitating with respect to bars I5 of the concentric member ID. all gear 18 serves to drive shaft 12 and'a gear 19 serves to rotate the bearing I! aboutthe external surface of a stationary supporting sleeve 80, which surface is concentric with the shaft I2 and concentric member iii. A gear 8| integral with or attached to bearing 16 engages the gear I! to be driven thereby. 0ptionally, the shaft 12 may be hollow and a threadreceiving member I! may be stationarily supported upon a rod 53 extending through the shaft and secured to any suitable frame member 84. The member I! may have a knob to catch thread loops that may be discharged ofl the end of the reel.

As in the other embodiments, the eccentric and askew bearing sleeve It may be maintained in a stationary position or it may be. rotated in'the same or in opposite directions relative to the shaft 12 and the reel bars. By rotating the bearing sleeve It relative toshaft 12, the bulged -portion of the helix may be shifted around the axis of the helix. Because of the inclination of the bearing surface of sleeve 18. the bulged portion of the helix projects outwardly to varying extents throughout the length of the helix (1. e., in the direction parallel to its axis) Whilethe lengths of the reels shown are of the same order of size as their diameter, the reels may be made of any length, regardless of their diameter.

The various parts of the reel may be made the filamentary material to be handled thereby from the standpoints of smoothness, durability.

and/or resistance to corrosion under the influence of any liquids with which the filamentary materlal is to be treated while being advanced longitudinally oi the reel, without making the readequate for all portions of the supporting structure of the reel other than those intended to contact the filamentary material. Thus, parts 42, 43 and it may be made oi porcelain, Durez, A1 S1 Mag, etc., while such other parts as 48 and 41 may be made of Bakelite, stainless steel, etc. These latter parts need not be made or! materials which are entirely free of tendencies to be pitted or otherwise superficially altered by the combined action or corrosive chemicals and rubbing action of the filaments handled.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope oi the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method oi handling a thread or the like which comprises passing a thread continuously through a path having the general form oia helix having a portion thereof bulged radially Y turns in the bulged portion are shlrted lon ioutwardly relative to the remaining portion 1 thereof, rotating the helix of thread about a predetermined longitudinal axis, continuously shifting the bulged portion around the axis, and shifting the thread turns in the bulged portion lon gitudinally of the helix.

2-. The method of claim 1 in which the bulged portion projects outwardly to the same extent throughout the length, of the helix. v

3. The method'ot claim 1 in which the bulged portion projects outwardly to varying extents throughout the length of the helix.

tudinally oi the helix and the thread in the helix is maintained under substantially constant tension.

5. A method or handling a thread or the'llke. which consists in maintaining a length of said thread in the general form of a helix, rotating said helix about. a predetermined longitudinal axis, maintaining only a portion or said helix radially outwardly bulged relative to the remainder or said helix, shitting said bulged portion circumierentially around the helix while maintaining said helix in fixed shape, and iongitudinally forwardly feeding only said bulged part of said helix.

6. A method of handling a thread or the like, which consists inmaintaining a length of said thread in the form of a helix, rotating said helix about 'a predetermined longitudinal axis, main- .taining only a portion or said helix radially outwardly bulged relative to the remainder of said.

helix, shifting said bulged portion circumferentially around the helix while maintaining said helix in fixed shape, and longitudinally forwardly feeding only said bulged part of said helix, said bulged portion or said helix occupying only a minor part of the circumierence oi the helix.

7. A method according to claim 5, in which the thread oi the helix is maintained under substantially constant tension.

8. A method oi handling a thread or the like, which consists in maintaining a length of said thread in the form of a helix. wholly and continuously on a support which'is rotatable about a. longitudinal axis, moving said helix longitudinally on said support without substantially moving said helix circumferentlally relative to said support, said helix being thus moved longitudinally, only in a circumferential zone of said helix which is shifted circumierentially around said helix.

RICHARD W. STANLEY. 

